Un mois is the standard, go-to word for "month" in French, and you'll certainly use it often. But what about when you want to talk about a "monthly" payment, or refer to the "end of the month"? As you navigate conversations in French, from making plans to discussing work, you'll quickly realize that knowing just one word isn't always enough. To help you sound more like a native speaker and understand these common situations, let's explore 9 essential ways to talk about the "month" in French!

1. The standard 'month' – un mois

The most common and direct way to say 'month' in French is un mois. This is your go-to word in virtually every situation, from casual conversation to formal writing.

It's important to remember that mois is a masculine noun, which is why it's preceded by un (one/a) or le (the). A key feature of this word is that its spelling is the same for both singular and plural. The final 's' is always present, so you say un mois (one month) and deux mois (two months) – no extra 's' is added for the plural form.

The pronunciation can be tricky for beginners. The 'oi' is pronounced like 'wa' in English, and the final 's' is silent. So, mois sounds like 'mwa'. This holds true whether it's singular or plural.

Mois is frequently used in common time-related expressions. Here are a few essential ones to know:

• le mois prochain: next month
• le mois dernier: last month
• tous les mois: every month
• au début du mois: at the beginning of the month
• à la fin du mois: at the end of the month

When you want to name a specific month, you typically use the structure le mois de followed by the month's name. For example, le mois de janvier means 'the month of January'. In many cases, you can also drop le mois de and simply use the month's name, like en janvier (in January).

💡 * Je pars en vacances pour un mois.

• Le loyer est dû au début de chaque mois.
• Il a neigé pendant trois mois l'hiver dernier.
• Quel est ton mois préféré de l'année ?

1. The current 'month' – ce mois-ci

To specify the current month you are in, French speakers add a helpful suffix to the phrase for 'this month,' creating ce mois-ci.

Literally, ce mois-ci translates to 'this month here.' The -ci is a suffix derived from ici (here), and it works to anchor the timeframe to the speaker's immediate present.

While ce mois can mean 'this month,' it can be ambiguous. Adding -ci removes any doubt, making it clear you are referring to the calendar month that is currently happening.

The suffix -ci has an opposite: -là (there). You would use ce mois-là to refer to 'that month'—a specific month in the past or future that you were just discussing. This contrast highlights the specific function of ce mois-ci.

You'll hear ce mois-ci used frequently when talking about deadlines, appointments, monthly goals, or current events. It's an essential phrase for managing schedules and plans in French.

💡 * Je dois payer mon loyer ce mois-ci. (I have to pay my rent this month.)

• Les températures sont très basses ce mois-ci. (The temperatures are very low this month.)
• Il y a deux jours fériés ce mois-ci. (There are two public holidays this month.)
• Nous allons déménager ce mois-ci. (We are going to move this month.)

The 'previous month' – le mois dernier

To talk about the 'previous month' or 'last month' in French, the most common and direct phrase is le mois dernier.

This phrase literally translates to 'the month last'. 'Le mois' means 'the month', and 'dernier' is the masculine adjective for 'last' or 'previous'.

In French, adjectives that denote a specific point in a time series, like dernier (last) and prochain (next), typically follow the noun. This is a key rule for time-related expressions.

This structure is consistent across other time frames. For example, 'last week' is la semaine dernière. Notice that the adjective changes to dernière to agree with the feminine noun la semaine.

Because le mois dernier refers to a completed time in the past, it is almost always used with a past tense verb, most commonly the passé composé to describe a specific event.

💡 * Je suis allé à Paris le mois dernier. (I went to Paris last month.)

• Il a commencé son nouvel emploi le mois dernier. (He started his new job last month.)
• Nous avons vu ce film le mois dernier. (We saw this movie last month.)
• Qu'est-ce que tu as fait le mois dernier ? (What did you do last month?)

The 'next month' – le mois prochain

Le mois prochain is the standard French phrase that directly translates to 'next month'. It specifically refers to the calendar month immediately following the current one.

The structure follows a common pattern for time expressions in French: definite article (le) + noun (mois) + adjective (prochain). This order is fixed for this meaning.

This phrase is a time adverbial and is typically placed at the beginning or the end of a sentence to provide context. For example, Le mois prochain, nous irons à Paris or Nous irons à Paris le mois prochain.

Be careful not to confuse le mois prochain with le prochain mois. While both can mean 'the next month', le mois prochain points to the very next calendar month. In contrast, le prochain mois might refer to the next month in a specific sequence, like 'the next month of my training program'.

💡 * Je vais commencer un nouveau livre le mois prochain.

• Le mois prochain, c'est l'anniversaire de ma mère.
• Ils ont prévu de se marier le mois prochain.
• Le rapport doit être terminé pour le mois prochain.

The 'beginning of the month' – le début du mois

To talk about the 'beginning of the month' in French, you use the straightforward and essential phrase le début du mois.

The phrase literally means 'the beginning of the month.' It breaks down into le début (the beginning) and du mois (of the month). Remember that du is the required contraction of de + le.

This is a standard expression used in both formal and informal settings. It's commonly heard when discussing payments, salaries, appointments, or project timelines. It generally refers to the first few days or the first week of any given month.

While le début du mois is slightly vague, you can add words to be more precise. For example, au tout début du mois means 'at the very beginning of the month.' You can also specify the month, as in le début du mois de mai (the beginning of May).

Mastering le début du mois is crucial for everyday planning and conversation in French. Its versatility makes it a high-frequency phrase you will encounter often.

💡 * Je reçois mon salaire au début du mois.

• Nous devons payer le loyer au début du mois.
• Le festival commence au début du mois prochain.
• On se verra au début du mois de juillet.

The 'end of the month' – la fin du mois

The 'end of the month' – la fin du mois

Literally translating to 'the end of the month,' the phrase la fin du mois is a common expression in French. While it can simply refer to the last few days of a calendar month, it more often carries a strong cultural connotation of financial tightness while waiting for the next salary.

This expression taps into the widespread experience of living paycheck to paycheck. When someone says, 'C'est difficile en fin de mois' (It's difficult at the end of the month), it's a universally understood and relatable way to say that money is short.

The concept is so ingrained in the culture that it has spawned related idioms. A very common one is 'arrondir ses fins de mois,' which means 'to supplement one's income' or 'to make ends meet.' Another similar phrase is 'joindre les deux bouts,' which also means 'to make ends meet.'

In conversation, mentioning la fin du mois is not considered slang but a standard expression. Using it correctly demonstrates an understanding of everyday economic realities in France, making it a very authentic phrase for learners to know.

💡 * Je ne peux pas sortir ce soir, c'est la fin du mois.

• Il cherche un petit boulot pour arrondir ses fins de mois.
• Pour beaucoup de gens, la fin du mois est synonyme de stress financier.
• Vivement le salaire, cette fin de mois est interminable !

The 'monthly payment' – la mensualité

When discussing recurring payments, especially for loans or subscriptions, the French word you need is la mensualité. This term directly translates to 'monthly payment' or 'monthly installment'.

La mensualité specifically refers to a fixed amount paid every month. It's commonly used in financial contexts, such as for a mortgage (prêt immobilier), a car loan (crédit auto), or other types of installment plans. It emphasizes the regular, monthly nature of the payment.

Remember that mensualité is a feminine noun. Therefore, you always use it with feminine articles, such as la mensualité (the monthly payment) or une mensualité (a monthly payment).

💡 * À combien s'élève la mensualité de votre prêt immobilier ? (How much is the monthly payment for your mortgage?)

• J'ai une mensualité de 300 euros pour ma voiture. (I have a monthly payment of 300 euros for my car.)
• Il nous reste douze mensualités avant de finir de payer le canapé. (We have twelve monthly payments left before we finish paying for the sofa.)

The 'months of the year' – les mois de l'année

Learning les mois de l'année (the months of the year) is a fundamental step in mastering French. A crucial rule to remember is that, unlike in English, the names of the months are not capitalized in French unless they start a sentence.

Here is the complete list of the twelve months in French:

• janvier - January
• février - February
• mars - March
• avril - April
• mai - May
• juin - June
• juillet - July
• août - August
• septembre - September
• octobre - October
• novembre - November
• décembre - December

To say that something happens 'in' a specific month, you use the preposition en. This is a straightforward rule that applies to all months. For instance, 'in April' becomes en avril.

💡 * Je vais en France en juillet. (I am going to France in July.)

• Mon anniversaire est en novembre. (My birthday is in November.)
• L'école recommence en septembre. (School starts again in September.)
• Il fait souvent froid en janvier. (It is often cold in January.)

1. The 'honeymoon' – la lune de miel

The French translation for “honeymoon” is a direct cognate: la lune de miel. The literal translation is “the moon of honey,” which beautifully captures the sweetness of this post-wedding period.

Just like in English, la lune de miel refers to the traditional vacation taken by a newly married couple. The concept is identical in French culture. You will often see it used with verbs like partir (to leave) or être (to be).

To use it in a sentence, you'll typically pair it with a verb. The most common phrases are:

• Partir en lune de miel: To go on a honeymoon.
• Être en lune de miel: To be on a honeymoon.

The expression la lune de miel also has a figurative meaning, just as it does in English. It can describe the initial, idyllic phase of any new relationship or situation, such as a new job or a political term, before challenges arise.

💡 * Où est-ce que vous partez pour votre lune de miel ? (Where are you going for your honeymoon?)

• Les nouveaux mariés sont en lune de miel aux Maldives. (The newlyweds are on their honeymoon in the Maldives.)
• Après trois mois, la lune de miel entre le directeur et son équipe était terminée. (After three months, the honeymoon period between the director and his team was over.)
• Ils ont passé une lune de miel inoubliable en Grèce. (They spent an unforgettable honeymoon in Greece.)

Are there other ways to say 'month' in French?

So, are there other ways to say “month” in French?

While un mois is the standard and most common word, French has a rich vocabulary for discussing time. This list has covered the essential terms you'll need, but the language is full of specific expressions related to time periods, deadlines, and durations.

You can expand your knowledge by doing an online search for “expressions de temps en français” (time expressions in French). This will help you discover idiomatic ways to talk about periods of time, including months.

Always pay attention to context. For instance, une mensualité (a monthly payment) contains the idea of a month, but it isn’t a synonym for un mois. Before using a new term, check its precise definition and look for example sentences to understand its proper use.

As you read, watch, and listen to French content, notice how people refer to schedules, plans, and events. You'll see mois used constantly and discover related vocabulary that will naturally become part of your own.

If you're looking for more vocabulary related to time and calendars, the WordReference entry for mois is a fantastic resource. It includes compound terms and forum discussions that can answer more specific questions.

I hope this guide has been helpful for your French learning journey. To finish, here is a fitting proverb about patience and time, attributed to Jean de La Fontaine: Patience et longueur de temps font plus que force ni que rage. (Patience and the length of time do more than strength or rage.)